Brandon Spikes will not need knee surgery

Jeff Howe Monday, January 13, 2014

Credit: Nancy Lane

(Baltimore, MD, 12/22/13) New England Patriots middle linebacker Brandon Spikes celebrates after taking down Baltimore Ravens running back Bernard Pierce for a loss of one yard in the 2nd quarter. New England Patriots face the Baltimore Ravens at M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore on Sunday, December 22, 2013. Staff Photo by Nancy Lane

Rest is the best medicine.

Patriots linebacker Brandon Spikes got a second opinion on his knee today, and it was confirmed that he will not need surgery to repair the PCL injury that landed him on injured reserve last week. A source has told the Herald since Week 17 that Spikes would only need offseason rest to treat the injury, but the fourth-year player sought a second opinion to further that belief. Spikes got that second opinion today at the Kerlan-Jobe Clinic in Los Angeles, where Dr. Neal ElAttrache determined the ligament would heal with rest and normal treatment, according to a statement issued by Premier Sports & Entertainment, which represents Spikes.

Also, Premier Sports & Entertainment CEO Gary Uberstine issued a statement in regard to Spikes' placement on injured reserve. On Saturday, ESPN reported Spikes was placed on IR in part because he was late to a Jan. 3 team meeting, which the report claimed was the "final straw" for a frustrated Bill Belichick.

"The team’s decision to place Brandon on Injured Reserve was not a mutual decision, nor need it be," the statement read. "Brandon had every intention to keep playing throughout the playoffs, despite the pain he was experiencing throughout the season. We never had a single conversation with the Patriots in which they threatened to release him if he didn’t accept the Injured Reserve designation. Spikes has been a great teammate, and nobody can question the passion with which he plays the game, or how important he has been to the Patriots success. Although he is disappointed that he won’t be able to line up alongside his teammates this weekend against the Broncos, he won’t let these rumors serve as a distraction and has no intention of making any further comment whatsoever concerning any of these issues."

Spikes, a 2010 second-round pick out of Florida, is scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent this offseason.